Some of the best-known digital and tech experts from across the globe have been lined-up to speak at Venturefest Bristol & Bath 2015, a one day event that will bring together the regions’ most innovative and enterprising companies and start-ups.
The full programme for Venturefest Bristol & Bath includes a raft of national and international names, including Leo Johnson, founder of Sustainable Finance who will open the conference, as well as IMDb founder Col Needham and director of technology at SXSW, Scott Wilcox.
The event, which is being held on Tuesday 9 June, has attracted support from leading global businesses including Airbus, KPMG, Skanska and First Group.
Green tech
As part of the Innovation Showcase, Mr Johnson will be discussing the global megatrends that shape our cities, looking at the possible technological response and the impact this will have on people, our economy and the environment. Johnson is also an ambassador for Bristol’s year as the European Green Capital in 2015.
In addition to the wide range of thought provoking discussions, Venturefest Bristol & Bath has organised a jam-packed programme of panel sessions which will showcase exciting innovations from industry sectors, including advanced engineering, high tech, ICT and microelectronics, digital and creative, and city innovation.
Gerard Grech, CEO of TechCityUK will speak as part of the City Innovation panel, looking at how digital technology is transforming life in cities. He will share insights from the report ‘Tech Nation: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Clusters Powering the UK Digital Economy.’
Other events on the day include the Investor Showcase, the Thought Leadership Conference and the hotly anticipated Start-Up Village, which will showcase 30 of the best up-and-coming new businesses.
Bristol & Bath is already known as a global centre for innovation, and has recently been named the largest digital cluster in the UK outside of London. The region has also developed a global reputation as an innovation hotspot, recognised last year in an international report from McKinsey & Co and Centre for Cities, which revealed that it is the only fast-growing globally significant technology cluster in the UK.
“Delegates can expect free and unfettered access to a fantastic line-up of established global companies”
Matthew Cross, head of inward investment at Invest Bristol & Bath, said: “We are incredibly fortunate to be able to host such a long list of high profile names and industry innovators. Delegates can expect free and unfettered access to a fantastic line-up of established global companies, investors, academic inventors and some really exciting up-and-coming SMEs.”
Tech opportunities for the South West
On the back of recent Government announcements, which pledge its commitment to areas such as ‘cyber intelligence’ innovation, robotics and digital and ‘fintech’ currencies, Bristol & Bath looks set to further establish itself on an international stage with opportunities to develop and roll-out these technologies.
One of the exhibitors at Venturefest Bristol & Bath 2015 is Blu Wireless Technology, a silicon IP company developing low cost 60GHz WiGig technology.
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This week it announced its collaboration with California-based Integrated Device Technology to demonstrate integrated wireless charging with ultra-fast 60 GHz WiGig data transmission.
“Bristol is a world class centre of excellence in wireless, CPU and silicon development”
The company’s chief executive, Henry Nurser, commented: “Bristol is a world class centre of excellence in wireless, CPU and silicon development, so exhibiting at Venturefest Bristol & Bath is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the delivery of our products to telecom operators around the world who are desperate to deliver multi Gbit internet to their customers.”
Other speakers include Naji El-Arifi (Somo), Dave Underwood (Met Office), Colin Brown (British American Business Council), Mahesh Sooriyabandara (Toshiba TRL) and Mark Perry (HP Future Cities).
For more information on Venturefest Bristol & Bath 2015, or to register as a delegate, visit www.venturefestbristolandbath.com.
